Maren Mjelde


Maren Nævdal Mjelde is a Norwegian international footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Norway national team. She previously played for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC of the Swedish Damallsvenskan, Turbine Potsdam of the Frauen-Bundesliga and both Arna-Bjørnar and Avaldsnes IL of the Norweigen Toppserien. Her elder brother, Erik Mjelde, is a footballer with Sandefjord Fotball.

Club career

Mjelde joined the Norwegian club, Arna-Bjørnar, as a 15-year-old in 2005. The club finished the 2012 Toppserien league in third place, earning the bronze medal that year. She transferred to the German club Turbine Potsdam before the 2013 season. She played all the club's matches in the latter part of the season, when they reached the runner-up position in the German Cup and League competitions.
On 22 November 2016, Mjelde signed for Chelsea Ladies on a deal until 2018.
On 16 November 2019, Mjelde scored the only goal in Chelsea Women's historic win versus Manchester United Women, the first game ever played between these two female teams in the WSL 1.

International career

In October 2007, Mjelde made her senior international debut for Norway against Russia. She was selected for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, and the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Mjelde scored her first goal for Norway against Ukraine in a qualifying play–off for the latter competition.
Mjelde was Norway's vice captain during 2011 and 2012 through the team's qualification campaign for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 and captained the side in many matches. In the tournament she played at right-back for the first time ever, and captained the team in their match in group B when Norway beat Germany 1–0 on 17 July. Norway lost the final 0–1 to Germany, and Mjelde was included in UEFA's Squad of the Tournament.
Mjelde was selected in Even Pellerud's squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She scored against Germany in a 1–1 draw in the group stage and played in Norway's second round defeat by England.